Town Square

Lucile Packard hospital penalized by state

Original post made
on May 22, 2008

Four Bay Area hospitals, including Lucile Packard Children's Hospital at Stanford, are among 13 facilities statewide facing penalties of $25,000 for violations that were likely to cause serious injuries or death to patients, the California Department of Public Health announced Wednesday.

Posted by Won't Visit Stanford Emergency Room Ever Again
a resident of Duveneck/St. Francis
on May 22, 2008 at 12:20 pm

Stanford is probably a good teaching hospital but it is terrible, absolutely the worst, in terms of patient care. We took our toddler to the emergency room there late one night last year with a spiking fever and chills that we thought might be convulsions. In the 104-5 degree range. It took us four hours until she was seen by an MD. FOUR HOURS we waited with her in that little room with no medication given to her at all until we made a scene and started to walk out of the facility with me loudly shouting that we were going somewhere else for medical care (we were going to drive to El Camino, maybe call an ambulance). Only then did a nurse give her some ibuprofen. and then it was another hour to see an MD. They were clearly understaffed. They told us that. We'll never go there again. Ever.

Posted by Mike
a resident of College Terrace
on May 22, 2008 at 3:03 pm

Never Visit.

Emergency rooms are VERY challenged these days,no matter where you go. The pathetic state of health insurance coverage is compelling financially challenged patients to use emergency rooms as a de facto doctor's office.

The best thing to do, if you're SURE there is time, and the emergency is not a "red alert" emergency, is to go to a more remote emergency room. THINK before you do this.

It's probably most always best to go someplace close, and lobby internally for immediate care if you feel you need it. Make a scene, if necessary. Emergency rooms are very chaotic and routine-dominated. IN an environment like that, sometimes you have to speak up, like you did. Doctors are not mind readers, and they, like all of us, make mistakes and get overwhelmed by stress.

Posted by C me around
a resident of Ventura
on May 24, 2008 at 1:41 am

I sat in a wheel chair for hours one time at Stanford, throwing up, facing the wall as I was so embarrased that other people were having to see me in that condition!
Just about everytime, myself or my children have been to Stanford's emergency room, it usually is a MINIMUM of two hours before you are escorted to a room. That's how it is. There seems to be always a room full of sick people here in Palo Alto!! You just have to wait, unfortunately as they seem to be understaffed and overworked! God bless 'em!!!
I did go in one time, again vomiting. After being checked out by the resident doctor, I had two tests ran that showed them that I had a stone partially blocking my gall bladder. I was given a nice big shot of morphine and sent home. Two days later, I returned to the emergency room and this time they kept me as I was to the point of almost passing out. They did emergency surgery on me, only to find out that now my gall bladder had gangrene.............It was the most horrific recovery time I ever had in life, worse than a horrible childbirth times 10.................Took me three months until I was able to get a nights sleep without crying in pain, even through the medication they had me on for pain.

BUT! Things happen. I am still thankful that there was a smart doctor who did such a good clean up job on my body. I was like Humpty Dumpty, they had to take my insides out and wash them down and put me back together again. THAT, I thank the Stanford doctors for. It was worth the wait........Keep the faith. I know when you or your loved one is injured that you feel you need immediate help. But they try to go case by case and sometimes the more injured have to be helped first. It just makes more trauma when you yell and carry on. A reminder to the severity of your illness should be given to the nurse upon arrival. I also found that those arriving by ambulance seem to get quicker attention and a room right away.....FYI...........

Posted by Patient
a resident of Another Palo Alto neighborhood
on May 26, 2008 at 6:58 am

The joke is hearing members of our City Council describe the Stanford Hospital complex as a "world class" institution, I presume they mean "third world" institution.

I recently stayed there in a shared room where a team of doctors worked all night to keep the patient next to me alive. Meanwhile, I was attempting to sleep after surgery. I was told by a Resident they had nowhere else available for either her or me. That sleepless night cost my insurance company $6,000!!! I was never so glad to get out of there.

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